Florida Football Notebook: High Hopes for Tre Wilson, Joey Slackman as Gators OL Remains Work in Progress

Young Gators showing potential, but consistency and depth remain concerns

After a disappointing 6-7 season in 2022, the Florida Gators are looking to bounce back in 2023. One key area of focus for the Gators will be the offensive line, which struggled at times last season.

Tre Wilson and Joey Slackman emerging as future stars

Two young players who have shown great promise are sophomore Tre Wilson and redshirt freshman Joey Slackman. Wilson started all 13 games at right tackle last season, while Slackman saw action in 11 games, mostly on special teams.

Both players have the size and athleticism to be successful at the collegiate level. Wilson is 6-foot-6, 305 pounds, while Slackman is 6-foot-5, 310 pounds.

Consistency and depth remain concerns

While Wilson and Slackman have shown flashes of brilliance, the Gators' offensive line as a whole still has some work to do. The unit struggled with consistency last season, and there are still some concerns about depth.

The Gators lost three starters from last year's offensive line, including All-SEC center Kingsley Eguakun. Redshirt sophomore Ethan White is expected to take over at center, but he has yet to start a game at the collegiate level.

Gators looking to improve communication and chemistry

One of the biggest challenges for the Gators' offensive line this season will be improving communication and chemistry. The unit had some issues with both of those areas last season, which led to some costly mistakes.

New offensive line coach Rob Sale is working to address those issues, and he is confident that the Gators can make significant strides in 2023.

Outlook for 2023

The Gators' offensive line has the potential to be a strength in 2023. Wilson and Slackman are two future stars, and the unit as a whole has a lot of experience.

However, the Gators still need to improve their consistency and depth. If they can do that, they have the potential to be one of the best offensive lines in the SEC.